Cop’s grieving family drops legal threat after drunk driver pays record Bt45m

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

The family of a deputy police commander killed in a road accident has dropped the threat of legal action against the drunk driver responsible after he paid Bt45 million in compensation.

 

Kosonlavat Intujunyong, deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General, said on Monday that the daughters of Pol Lt Colonel Jatuporn Ngarmsuwitchakul had already informed the court of their family’s decision not to pursue legal proceedings against Somchai Verojpipat.

 

Somchai was found to be drunk when he crashed his Benz sedan head-on into the car of Jatuporn – who worked for the Crimes Suppression Division – in Bangkok in April. The accident killed Jatuporn and his wife, and seriously injured the couple’s youngest daughter.

 

Somchai expressed remorse over deaths and paid Bt45 million to Jatuporn’s daughters. The amount is said to be the largest amount in compensation ever offered to a family of road-accident victims.

 

Initially, police pressed five charges against Somchai, namely speeding, drunk and reckless driving that caused death and serious injuries, damage to property, homicide, and attempted homicide.

 

Public prosecutor have now decided to drop the charges related to homicide.

 

Somchai has already pleaded guilty to the three remaining charges of speeding, drunk driving and reckless driving.

 

The court will deliver its verdict on July 31.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30372090

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-07-01

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3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Public prosecutor have now decided to drop the charges related to homicide.

But the reckless driving charge leading to a death will still result in a gaol term, yes?

Edited July 1, 20197 yr by Bluespunk

I think the justice was the 45 million bhat. He would have to be very rich for that amt not to hurt

46 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

But the reckless driving charge leading to a death will still result in a gaol term, yes?

Somehow, with that large a sum of money "on the table" I very much doubt it - as I am sure do you!

Still an obscene way to deal with matters when the Police case should come first and punishment handed down in a proper manner before any money changes hands.  This Guy will now walk out of Court with a fine when he should be doing at least five years behind bars.

 

I don't think this country will ever enter the real world when it comes to crime and punishment !

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

Still an obscene way to deal with matters when the Police case should come first and punishment handed down in a proper manner before any money changes hands.  This Guy will now walk out of Court with a fine when he should be doing at least five years behind bars.

 

I don't think this country will ever enter the real world when it comes to crime and punishment !

I wouldn't jump the gun too quickly. Yes, the cops have dropped the charges involving death, though the court will be informed. Courts here will assess offender regret and remorse, which given what he has freely lobbed over seems apparent.

However, he still has serious charges to face, and while again the court will consider the benefits and otherwise of a custodial sentence, I do believe that given the circumstances, and as a rebuke to others in his rich shoes who drive around pissed up, that they will give him at least some jail time.

The Red Bull "Boss" pissed off a lot of people with the ease in which he disappeared, an anger that may well rise its head if another Hi-So killing a cop just walks.

I do though freely admit that this will depend much on how much stress the judge is under regarding his kids school fees and the need for that new Mercedes, that is a better model than his neighbour.

a couple of months in a temple (read one month, out the back door) same as that other drunk clown driving a Merc that resulted in two students being burnt alive.

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Still an obscene way to deal with matters when the Police case should come first and punishment handed down in a proper manner before any money changes hands.  This Guy will now walk out of Court with a fine when he should be doing at least five years behind bars.

 

I don't think this country will ever enter the real world when it comes to crime and punishment !

Hmm,..Correct, but In the real world similar things happen as well, but in the background!!!

This one was almost in the open...now if this is a good or a bad thing is a very different and difficult question to answer.

Should never be allowed to hold a driving licence again, EVER!

Manslaughter 5 years, x 2 = 10 years, culpable killing by being drunk.

16 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

Should never be allowed to hold a driving licence again, EVER!

Manslaughter 5 years, x 2 = 10 years, culpable killing by being drunk.

I wonder how badly injured the daughter was and are her injuries likely to affect her ability to live a descent quality of live?

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I wouldn't jump the gun too quickly. Yes, the cops have dropped the charges involving death, though the court will be informed. Courts here will assess offender regret and remorse, which given what he has freely lobbed over seems apparent.

However, he still has serious charges to face, and while again the court will consider the benefits and otherwise of a custodial sentence, I do believe that given the circumstances, and as a rebuke to others in his rich shoes who drive around pissed up, that they will give him at least some jail time.

The Red Bull "Boss" pissed off a lot of people with the ease in which he disappeared, an anger that may well rise its head if another Hi-So killing a cop just walks.

I do though freely admit that this will depend much on how much stress the judge is under regarding his kids school fees and the need for that new Mercedes, that is a better model than his neighbour.

Surely you are not implying justice has a price?

45 million will always drop any charges for what happened.the family will be very happy with the money I am sure and will be spend wisely I imagine

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9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Somchai expressed remorse over deaths and paid Bt45 million to Jatuporn’s daughters

He’s expressed remorse? So let’s say he pays the 45 million and then gets sentenced to 10 years (five for each person he killed) he’ll accept this? After all, he’s shown remorse. 

Bet all the others like red Bull had wished they had ponied up real reddies more quickly (rather than trying to do it on the cheap) and he could still be in Thonglor every night getting bladdered!! Maybe after this he will reemerge and renegotiate with the dead cops family...

  I bet that it's over. 

What about the family of the wife?

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Public prosecutor have now decided to drop the charges related to homicide.

The rich can buy their way out of criminal charges.  Jail is for the little people.

 

 

Edited July 1, 20197 yr by CALSinCM

19 minutes ago, RobboR said:

Absolutely no chance . They have actual reporters still in civilised countries and cops who actually do their jobs.

The amount of people that attend an accident, especially if there is a death is immense.

Speaking anecdotally from a first world country (which I can not name as it may cause me a hijacking penalty), I emphatically disagree with you.

9 hours ago, JAG said:

Somehow, with that large a sum of money "on the table" I very much doubt it - as I am sure do you!

Yes "on the table" but will it be paid? Gaol? I doubt that too.

 

 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Public prosecutor have now decided to drop the charges related to homicide

so Bt45m says the victims didn't die ?, he basically bought his way out of the serious criminal charges

36 minutes ago, smedly said:

so Bt45m says the victims didn't die ?, he basically bought his way out of the serious criminal charges

In civilized countries it's called obstruction of Justice to try to bribe witnesses etc.

And in civilized countries it's not up to the family to pursue a homicide case. It's the state that is the accuser. Not the family of the deceased.

Thailand has a clown shit show that they call a "justice" "system".

Edited July 2, 20197 yr by hobz

1 hour ago, smutcakes said:

Bet all the others like red Bull had wished they had ponied up real reddies more quickly (rather than trying to do it on the cheap) and he could still be in Thonglor every night getting bladdered!! Maybe after this he will reemerge and renegotiate with the dead cops family...

Who knows he may be in Thonglor or similar location party going every night how would we know.....??

24 minutes ago, hobz said:

In civilized countries it's called obstruction of Justice to try to bribe witnesses etc.

And in civilized countries it's not up to the family to pursue a homicide case. It's the state that is the accuser. Not the family of the deceased.

Thailand has a clown shit show that they call a "justice" "system".

Perhaps it could come as "Restorative Justice",

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restorative_justice

 

It is often used in "cultural" situations across the globe

 

It is used in conjunction with legal system, not instead of

Edited July 2, 20197 yr by RJRS1301

Money = license to kill 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Who knows he may be in Thonglor or similar location party going every night how would we know.....??

I expect he could get away with being in Thailand someplace in the middle of nowhere, but not out and about in Thonglor partying.

 

Just shows you there are some seriously rich Thais out there. Hopefully, dishing out 45MB made him wince a bit.

Great, the production line continues?

Civil damages paid out do not determine Criminal responsibility! 

I expect there are some politician beating thugs looking for work to add some more permanent closure ????

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

Should never be allowed to hold a driving licence again, EVER!

Manslaughter 5 years, x 2 = 10 years, culpable killing by being drunk.

I disagree. We all do and have done stupid things in our lives. Most times no one is hurt. No one is perfect. But he is remorseful and paid a lot of money to the family so give him another chance at life and driving. 

The law is the same for everyone, unless you have money, then you can run it as you want!